World Bank Blogshttp://blogs.worldbank.org/planet.xml
IBRD and IDA: Working for a World Free of Poverty.enSouth Asia: A bright spot in darkening economic skies?https://blogs.worldbank.org/endpovertyinsouthasia/south-asia-bright-spot-darkening-economic-skies
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<img alt="" height="453" src="https://blogs.worldbank.org/endpovertyinsouthasia/files/endpovertyinsouthasia/ismail78_dsc7657-south-asia-a-bright-spot-in-darkening-economic-skies.jpg" title="" width="680" />
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South Asia is set to remain relatively insulated from some of the&nbsp;rising uncertainties that are looming large on the global economic horizon. The region will retain its top spot as the world’s fastest-growing region.&nbsp;The Siddhirganj Power Project in Bangladesh. Credit:&nbsp;Ismail Ferdous/World Bank</figcaption>
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<p>
If, like me, you’re a firm believer in New Year’s resolutions, early January ushers in the prospect of renewed energy and exciting opportunities. And as tradition has it, it’s also a time to enter the prediction game.<br />
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Sadly, [[tweetable]]when it comes to the global economy, this year’s outlook is taking a somber turn.[[/tweetable]]<br />
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[[tweetable]]In the aptly titled Darkening Skies, the World Bank’s new edition of its twice-a-year Global Economic Prospects report shows that risks are looming large on the economic horizon.[[/tweetable]]<br />
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To sum up: &nbsp;[[tweetable]]In emerging market and developing economies, the lingering effects of recent financial market stress on several large economies, a further deceleration in commodity exporters are likely to stall growth at a weaker-than-expected 4.2 percent this year.[[/tweetable]]<br />
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[[tweetable]]On a positive note, South Asia is set to remain relatively insulated from some of these rising global uncertainties and will retain its top spot as the world’s fastest-growing region. [[/tweetable]]<br />
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[[tweetable]]Bucking the global decelerating trend, growth in South Asia is expected to accelerate to 7.1 percent in 2019 from 6.9 percent in the year just ended, bolstered in part by stronger investments and robust consumption. &nbsp;[[/tweetable]]<br />
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[[tweetable]]Among the region’s largest economies, India is forecast to grow at 7.5 percent in fiscal year 2019-20 while Bangladesh is expected to moderate to 7 percent in fiscal year 2018-19. Sri Lanka is seen speeding up slightly to 4 percent in 2019.[[/tweetable]]<br />
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Notably, and despite increasing conflicts and growing fragility, Afghanistan is expected to increase its growth to &nbsp;2.7 percent rate this year.<br />
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In this otherwise positive outlook, Pakistan’s growth is projected to slow to 3.7 percent in fiscal year 2018-19 as the country is tightening its financial conditions to help counter rising inflation and external vulnerabilities.<br />
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However, activity is projected to rebound and average 4.6 percent over the medium term.</p>
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<img alt="Bucking the global decelerating trend, growth in South Asia is expected to accelerate to 7.1 percent in 2019 from 6.9 percent in the year just ended, bolstered in part by stronger investments and robust consumption." height="340" src="https://blogs.worldbank.org/endpovertyinsouthasia/files/endpovertyinsouthasia/gep2019a_twitter_regional_growth.jpg" title="Bucking the global decelerating trend, growth in South Asia is expected to accelerate to 7.1 percent in 2019 from 6.9 percent in the year just ended, bolstered in part by stronger investments and robust consumption." width="680" />
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Bucking the global decelerating trend, growth in South Asia is expected to accelerate to 7.1 percent in 2019 from 6.9 percent in the year just ended, bolstered in part by stronger investments and robust consumption.</figcaption>
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[[tweetable]]South Asia’s overall robust economic prospects are proof that governments across the region are on the right path to achieving inclusive and sustainable growth.[[/tweetable]]<br />
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And to reach that goal, the region is committed to getting its business environment in better shape to create more and better jobs for its people.<br />
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That was one of the main takeaways from the latest <a href="https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2018/10/31/doing-business-report-new-record-in-south-asia-as-2-economies-are-top-improvers-and-business-reforms-continue" rel="nofollow">Doing Business 2019</a>, which shows how South Asia has made further gains to improve the ease of doing business and carried out a total of 19 business reforms in the past year--the second highest number ever.<br />
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Specifically, and in a first for South Asia, two of the region’s economies, India and Afghanistan, earned coveted spots as global top improvers.<br />
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This strong reform agenda reflects a political commitment across the region to lift barriers affecting businesses, especially local small and medium-sized enterprises, and unleash innovation and technological progress that drive growth.<br />
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<strong>However, several risks may hamper South Asia’s growth momentum. </strong><br />
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First, [[tweetable]]South Asian economies have among the highest levels of public debt in the world. [[/tweetable]] These fiscal burdens could store up trouble for the future and make the region more vulnerable to a faster-than-expected tightening of global financial conditions.<br />
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Further to that, <a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2018/10/07/south-asia-firms-up-its-growth-lead-despite-budget-woes" rel="nofollow">tax revenue</a> is consistently low across most South Asian countries and at rates below that of other developing countries with a similar income per capita.<br />
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To be true, some countries have expanded their tax bases and curbed tax exemptions and fraud, but their revenue remains lower than government expenditures, creating large fiscal deficits that need to be financed through public borrowing.<br />
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But beyond its persistent budget deficits and high levels of debt, [[tweetable]]South Asia faces an even more pressing challenge to sustain its growth progress—namely, the region is not investing enough in the health, skills, and education of its people.[[/tweetable]]<br />
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<strong>Investing in people early, and often, can lay a strong foundation for the growth and competitiveness of nations. </strong><br />
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That is, chiefly, the upshot of the <a href="http://www.worldbank.org/humancapitalproject" rel="nofollow">Human Capital Project</a>, a global effort led by the World Bank to accelerate investments in people for greater equity and economic growth.<br />
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And in that regard, South Asia – home to 33 percent of the world’s poor – needs to do a much better job.<br />
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The <a href="https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/30498/33252.pdf?sequence=4&amp;isAllowed=y" rel="nofollow">Bank’s Human Capital Index</a> which ranks 157 economies on indicators like child mortality, health, and education shows that children born in South Asia still have ways to go to achieve their full potential--especially in <a href="http://databank.worldbank.org/data/download/hci/HCI_Data_October_2018_AFG.xlsx" rel="nofollow">Afghanistan (#133),</a> <a href="http://databank.worldbank.org/data/download/hci/HCI_Data_October_2018_BGD.xlsx" rel="nofollow">Bangladesh (#106),</a> <a href="http://databank.worldbank.org/data/download/hci/HCI_Data_October_2018_IND.xlsx" rel="nofollow">India (#115)</a>, <a href="http://databank.worldbank.org/data/download/hci/HCI_Data_October_2018_NPL.xlsx" rel="nofollow">Nepal (#102),</a> and <a href="http://databank.worldbank.org/data/download/hci/HCI_Data_October_2018_PAK.xlsx" rel="nofollow">Pakistan (#134</a>).<br />
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On the bright side, <a href="http://databank.worldbank.org/data/download/hci/HCI_Data_October_2018_LKA.xlsx" rel="nofollow">Sri Lanka</a> is ahead of other South Asian countries and ranks at #74—higher than could be expected for its income level<br />
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Stunting in South Asia remains the highest in the world, with 36 percent of children stunted or of low height for their age.<br />
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Across the region, almost 13 million children of primary age are still out of school, and even when kids go to school the quality of learning falls behind – for example, many students are not able to read grade-relevant text in their own language.<br />
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With technology changing the very nature of work, investing in human capital has never been more critical.<br />
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And while progress in building human capital is hard to achieve, South Asia has proven it can pursue challenging reforms to grow its economies, invest in health and education, and spread prosperity more widely.<br />
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In that journey, we’re dedicated to continuing our work with governments in the region to secure a brighter future for their people.Wed, 09 Jan 2019 11:51:00 -0500Hartwig SchaferStronger social accountability, key to closing “human capital gap”https://blogs.worldbank.org/governance/stronger-social-accountability-key-closing-human-capital-gap
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<img alt="" height="546" src="https://blogs.worldbank.org/governance/files/governance/gpsa_forum_18_blog.jpg" title="" width="770" /><br />
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With the creation of the World Bank’s Human Capital project and launch of the Human Capital Index in October 2018 it is fitting for social accountability practitioners to ask how countries would be able to close the ‘human capital gap’ and to be accountable for their efforts?</p>
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<p>
The Index will enable measurement and transparency and create demand for improved performance, so the Fifth Annual Global Partners Forum of the Global Partnership for Social Accountability set out to discuss precisely that question, with a focus on the role of public finance.</p>
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"We have a huge obligation to make sure our investments are carefully considered and meet the needs of those they are designed to serve. As the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/human-capital" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Human Capital Project</a>&nbsp;gets underway, civil society will play an important role in ensuring that the local population is heard and understood,” said&nbsp;<a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/about/people/k/kristalina-georgieva" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kristalina Georgieva</a>, World Bank’s CEO, during her&nbsp;<a href="http://cdnapi.kaltura.com/index.php/extwidget/preview/partner_id/1930181/uiconf_id/29317392/entry_id/1_pel9uviq/embed/dynamic" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">keynote remarks</a>. “I count on vibrant and diverse civil society organizations to amplify citizens’ voices as a key part of development planning and implementation.”</p>
<p>
The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thegpsa.org/forum/global-partners-forum-2018" rel="nofollow">2018 Forum</a>&nbsp;convened a diverse group of more than 300 social accountability practitioners and thought leaders from civil society, foundations, government, multilateral organizations and academia. It was held at the World Bank from October 30 to November and participants made important recommendations to advance the Human Capital Project.<br />
<br />
These ranged from the need to closely track investments in human capital and strengthen governance and accountability systems, to the call to work with marginalized groups, including women.</p>
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“I am very excited to explore the link between human capital and social accountability as the Human Capital Index is helping mobilize and engage citizens everywhere,” said&nbsp;<a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/about/people/a/annette-dixon" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Annette Dixon</a>, World Bank’s Vice President for Human Development, while presenting&nbsp;<a href="http://cdnapi.kaltura.com/index.php/extwidget/preview/partner_id/1930181/uiconf_id/29317392/entry_id/1_7fnf7b0w/embed/dynamic" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">highlights</a>&nbsp;of the Human Capital Project. “The more we get citizens involved, the better and more effective the service delivery will be. And the more we engage the community, the greater the chance for real change.”</p>
<p>
"It is essential that money is well spent, and it is important for financial inclusion to engage with civil society,” said&nbsp;<a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/about/people/c/ceyla-pazarbasioglu" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ceyla Pazarbasioglu</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://cdnapi.kaltura.com/index.php/extwidget/preview/partner_id/1930181/uiconf_id/29317392/entry_id/1_srgo98qc/embed/dynamic" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">World Bank’s Vice President for Equitable Growth, Finance and Institutions</a>. "There is also enormous potential for including more women in the economy. And it is important to show that this is not just the right thing to do but that it is good for business and makes economic sense."</p>
<p>
Forum participants agreed. They noted the importance of active engagement with vulnerable populations, adoption of effective gender perspectives and recognition of disparities and power asymmetries across national and subnational territories.</p>
<p>
The role of civil society organizations here can be crucial, since they are committed to reaching out to the most marginalized and vulnerable groups and are often better equipped to do this. CSOs can also provide independent monitoring and evaluation of projects on the ground.</p>
<h4>
Vital investment</h4>
<p>
Human capital should also be regarded as a vital investment that must be preserved particularly in times of economic downturn, noted the participants. This echoes a core message of the Human Capital</p>
<p>
Project, that human capital is going to be the most important long-term investment any country can make for its people’s future prosperity and quality of life and that no country can afford to under-invest in this area.</p>
<p>
In this context, international financial institutions and other standard setters have a key role to play in reframing and protecting human capital as an investment, rather than just an expense. And, institutions like the World Bank Group should also use their financial and political clout to help preserve the civic space and foster a sustained and constructive dialogue between governments and its citizens.</p>
<p>
Participants observed that the effectiveness of human capital investments, whether for improving the quality of education, health, or social protection, must be independently monitored.</p>
<p>
Forum participants also recommended the strengthening of governance and accountability systems to make meaningful progress in building human capital. While acknowledging that some progress had been made, for example, in access to information laws, much remained to be done in terms of institutionalizing accountability systems.</p>
<p>
Overall, participants shared a collective understanding that the Human Capital Project requires a broad coalition of support for achieving its goals, including from media, academia, the private sector, as well as CSOs and independent audit institutions. And that peer learning among all stakeholders involved could harness the lessons learned and create opportunities for greater impact at scale.</p>
<p>
In this regard, participants noted, a global program like the GPSA was uniquely positioned to continue playing a critical role in facilitating the relationship between citizens, CSOs and governments, leveraging the World Bank’s investments to promote human capital, acting as a credible independent interlocutor, collecting and sharing relevant data and developing the evidence base that would allow governments and financial institutions to scale up the effectiveness and impact of their investments in human capital.</p>
<p>
“A core motivation of the Human Capital Index is to induce a race to the top among country leaders. We expect that it will provide a valuable tool to civil society to also hold their leaders and governments accountable for investing more and more effectively in their people,” said&nbsp;<a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/about/people/d/deborah-wetzel" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Debbie Wetzel</a>, Senior Director of the World Bank’s Governance Global practice. “We expect and hope that governments will demand these prime-time investments not because we tell them to focus on these, but because they understand more and more that investing in their people is fundamental for their full participation in the economies of the 21st century.<br />
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<div class="asset-wrapper asset aid-65 asset-video"> <strong >
GPSA Global Partners Forum 2018 </strong>
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</div>Wed, 19 Dec 2018 06:40:00 -0500Jeff ThindwaThe future drivers of growth in Rwanda https://blogs.worldbank.org/nasikiliza/the-future-drivers-of-growth-in-rwanda
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Photo: Rogers Kayihura/World Bank</figcaption>
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<p>
<br />
At a press conference in Kigali, I took a question: is the country’s Vision 2050 is achievable?<br />
&nbsp;<br />
We had just launched a new study, <a href="http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/522801541618364833/Future-Drivers-of-Growth-in-Rwanda-Innovation-Integration-Agglomeration-and-Competition" rel="nofollow"><em>The Future Drivers of Growth Report</em></a>, that was jointly produced by the World Bank and the Government of Rwanda. The question was well-asked, since the study explores Rwanda’s goal to become an Upper-Middle Income country by 2035, and a High-Income Country by 2050.</p>
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<p>
I cannot see the future, but I can look at the evidence before my eyes, both empirical and anecdotal.<br />
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The empirical data is positive. Rwanda has been a reform minded country for over 20 years and this has paid off. Over the last decade, Rwanda has made remarkable economic and social progress, with growth averaging 7.5% while per capita GDP nearly doubled from $404 to $748. Over a million people were lifted out of poverty between 2000/01 and 2013/14.<br />
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Reforms are evident in the most recent Doing Business Report, where Rwanda has climbed to a global rank of 29 compared to 41 last year. It is remarkable, because with seven reforms implemented in 12 months, the country is recognized as one of top 10 most-improved economies, alongside global players such as India and China.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
The next step for Rwanda’s economy, according to the report is to focus on four essential and interdependent drivers – innovation, integration, agglomeration and competition. You can read more about these <a href="http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/522801541618364833/Future-Drivers-of-Growth-in-Rwanda-Innovation-Integration-Agglomeration-and-Competition" rel="nofollow">here</a>.<br />
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Underpinning these drivers, is the urgent need to invest in human capital.<br />
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The World Bank’s new <a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/human-capital" rel="nofollow">Human Capital Index</a> indicates that children born today in Singapore (the highest ranked country) will reach 88% of their potential. By comparison, children born in Rwanda today will achieve just 37% of their potential. This is a tragedy, but we are pleased that the Government recognizes the scale of the challenge and is embracing the Human Capital agenda. President Kagame is Global Champion for the Human Capital Project, and the Government is part of the Early Adopter program.<br />
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The Bank will play a part as well. During my visit, I announced a 10% increase in the Bank Group’s current active support to Rwanda. New funding of $150m will improve student learning and progression in basic education in Rwanda and deal with low completion rates in basic and secondary education as well as the high repetition rates. Use of technology is expected to be a key component.<br />
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The anecdotal evidence is also positive.<br />
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Rwanda’s leadership recognized early that digital disruption is coming, and to meet their ambitious goals they need to get ahead to turn this into an opportunity. I heard from Claudette Irere, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of ICT, how Rwanda is turning its small size into an advantage by creating a pioneering environment for tech companies to test ideas before they scale up into larger regional markets.<br />
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She introduced me to IT engineers from across Africa who are studying for a Masters-level degree at the University of Rwanda’s Center of Excellence. They have ideas, analysis and designs to change entrenched everyday problems, like pay-as-you-cook gas stoves that use internet-of-things technology linked to mobile money. Or a geo-spatial model that analyzes the prospects for renewable energy in South Sudan and to promote more reliable and diverse sources of electricity.<br />
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Talking to the students, or to entrepreneurs at the K-Lab in Kigali (part of the Fablab network) - who showed me autonomous drone designs, 3D printed water filters and solar lanterns – it’s hard not to be enthused by their energy and optimism.<br />
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I ended my stay in Rwanda with a visit to Kigali’s new Convention Center that has just hosted <em>The</em>&nbsp; <em>International Conference on Family Planning</em>. The government-backed Center has helped propel Rwanda to the third most popular destination in Africa for business tourism, providing additional foreign currency earnings alongside other key export industries such as traditional tourism and commodities.<br />
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So, back to the question at the press conference. Can Rwanda achieve its Vision 2050 in the next 32 years?<br />
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In July 1994, while Rwanda was just emerging from the Genocide an online book business was founded in Seattle. Today, Amazon.com is global business powerhouse with over half a million employees and reached a market capitalization of over $1 trillion in September this year. A great deal can be achieved in 24 years, as Rwanda itself has also shown.<br />
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So, my answer to the question is ‘yes, but’. Yes, Vision 2050 is achievable. But Rwanda must maintain its bold approach to reform, and deliver on its commitment to invest in its people and create an environment so they can harness the opportunities of the digital revolution.</p>
Tue, 18 Dec 2018 17:55:00 -0500Kristalina GeorgievaHigher education institutions as drivers of innovation and growth in Azerbaijanhttps://blogs.worldbank.org/europeandcentralasia/higher-education-institutions-drivers-innovation-and-growth-azerbaijan
<img alt="Azerbaijan Education" height="439" src="https://blogs.worldbank.org/europeandcentralasia/files/water/az-education_0.jpg" title="Azerbaijan Education" width="780" /><br />
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It’s a cold spring day in Baku, and several students from <a href="http://www.asoiu.edu.az/en/page/31-eazi-start" rel="nofollow">Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University</a> (ASOIU) are huddled around a laptop trying to project an image onto their classroom wall.<br />
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Once the image is projected, one of the students “writes” on the surface of the classroom wall – as he would on the computer screen – using customized software called <a href="http://eazistart.org/product/5" rel="nofollow">CamTouch</a>, which allows the user to turn any surface into an interactive “smartboard”. The student also selects an icon and virtually opens a document with the help of a special stylus.<br />
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Along with several other innovative apps, the CamTouch software was developed by ASOIU students, with support from the university’s <a href="http://eazistart.org/" rel="nofollow">eaziSTART</a> innovation and start-up center. ASOIU is one of several universities in Azerbaijan that run innovation centers and business incubators to help students and researchers take their ideas from the drawing board to the marketplace.<br />
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Similar innovation hubs in Azerbaijan’s private sector include the <a href="https://barama.az/en/" rel="nofollow">Barama Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center</a> and the <a href="http://ameaytp.az/en/" rel="nofollow">High Technologies Park</a> (at the National Academy of Sciences). In total, about 18 incubation centers currently operate throughout the country.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
From Silicon Valley to Singapore, <a href="https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/2357" rel="nofollow">world-class research universities</a> have been drivers of innovation and economic growth. In Azerbaijan, however, despite its budding innovation ecosystem, higher education institutions (HEIs) lag behind those of other countries in producing and commercializing impactful research.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
A recent World Bank <a href="http://pubdocs.worldbank.org/en/496791540241839037/pdf/Policy-Note-Azerbaijan-The-Role-of-Higher-Education-in-Innovation-Oct-2018.pdf" rel="nofollow">policy note</a> identified a number of challenges facing HEIs and offered recommendations on how to strengthen their role as drivers of innovation and entrepreneurial growth.<br />
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One of the main obstacles facing HEIs in Azerbaijan is the relatively low level of expenditure on research and development (R&amp;D). Since 2015, R&amp;D investment accounted for only <a href="https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?locations=AZ&amp;year_high_desc=true" rel="nofollow">0.2 percent</a> of Azerbaijan’s GDP, compared to 1.1 percent in Russia, 2.5 percent in the OECD area, and 4.3 percent in Israel (the highest in the world).<br />
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Only 10 percent of Azerbaijan’s R&amp;D spending goes to HEIs and only one-third of that amount finances applied research. In contrast, countries of comparable size - like the Czech Republic, Portugal, and Austria - allocate between 68 and 81 percent of R&amp;D funding to applied research, which can be more readily commercialized than basic research.<br />
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One of the key recommendations in the policy note is that Azerbaijan expand its use of competitive funding mechanisms and direct more competitive research grants toward HEIs (or consortia composed of universities, research institutes, and industry). In <a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2017/01/19/in-kazakhstan-exciting-developments-in-innovation-research-and-technology" rel="nofollow">Kazakhstan</a> , <a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2017/04/12/world-bank-supports-improvement-of-higher-education-in-uzbekistan" rel="nofollow">Uzbekistan</a> and <a href="http://www.heric.me/en" rel="nofollow">Montenegro</a>, for example, recent expansion of competitive research funding has been used effectively to enhance university innovation capacities.<br />
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Another recommendation is to set-up effective technology transfer offices (TTOs) within HEIs and encourage universities to develop their own “commercialization agendas”, which would go a long way toward supporting students and researchers in developing market-relevant solutions.<br />
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Policymakers in Azerbaijan can provide additional support for entrepreneurship education and innovation infrastructure, by promoting the use of “Fab Labs” within HEIs so that ideas can be turned into prototypes, setting-up a national research equipment registry, and promoting shared access to innovation equipment by multiple stakeholders.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Creating world-class research universities does not happen overnight, of course. Fortunately, many of the necessary building blocks are already in place in Azerbaijan, and the recent <a href="https://president.az/articles/30751" rel="nofollow">Decree of the President of Azerbaijan</a> is a step in the right direction.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
We look forward to continuing our support to the Ministry of Education in its goal to turn Azerbaijan’s universities into drivers of innovation and economic growth.Thu, 13 Dec 2018 10:28:00 -0500Igor KheyfetsA three-course meal in darkness: An ‘eye-opening’ experience for embracing inclusivityhttps://blogs.worldbank.org/nasikiliza/a-three-course-meal-in-darkness-an-eye-opening-experience-for-embracing-inclusivity
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<img alt="" height="439" src="https://blogs.worldbank.org/nasikiliza/files/social_images/a-three-course-meal-in-darkness-an-eye-opening-experience-for-embracing-inclusivity-780x439.jpg" title="" width="780" />
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During a recent “Dinner in the Dark” social experiment, Kenya’s governors, policy makers and legislators experienced first-hand some of the same challenges as people living with disabilities. Photo: World Bank</figcaption>
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<p>
&nbsp;“That tastes like fish.”</p>
<p>
“There’s some avocado and tomato in it too!”</p>
<p>
“What is that?”</p>
<p>
These are some of the exclamations I heard from participants of a recent social experiment dubbed “Dining in the Dark” in Nairobi on November 13th as they ate the first course of their meal.</p>
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<p>
Governors, policy makers, legislators and government practitioners were blindfolded throughout a three-course luncheon, designed for them to experience some of the challenges people living with disabilities face. It was a relief to me when moderator Dr. Reginald Oduor, a visually-challenged disability activist, apologized to the diners for not being given a choice of what to eat for the first course. He reminded us that many times, people with visual disabilities are not given the opportunity to choose, and we should work towards eliminating that.</p>
<p>
This unique event epitomized the launch of the Braille version of the County Public Participation Guidelines, marking a milestone in Kenya’s journey towards the inclusion of citizens with visual disabilities in the governance and development processes.&nbsp;</p>
<p>
Basil and sage marinated roast chicken with zucchini and pineapple salsa sounded mouthwatering as Julie Gichuru, media personality and moderator for the event, announced the options for the main course. I have a great appetite for chicken, but I must admit the mystery and novelty of eating it in the dark left me wondering how huge the portion of chicken was! With affectionate abandon and because no one could see what the other was doing, I surrendered my plate to the waiter mid-poultry, something unheard of in the Kenyan village from where I hail. During the interesting excursion in the dark, I realized just how important it was to hear sound around me. Silence for over a minute set my nerves on edge. I learned that the sensory awareness journey had a profound impact on the other diners, too.</p>
<p>
Kericho Governor Paul Chepkwony, the chief guest at the luncheon and a representative of the Council of Governors was captured on camera as he set aside his soup spoon and freely deployed his hands to hold his bowl of soup. Con Omore, a governance advisor at the Department for International Development, tweeted that his experience was humbling, with amazing practical lessons.<em><strong> </strong></em></p>
<p>
I found the event vital because it ignited fresh commitment from each duty bearer to do something differently or enhance their efforts towards inclusion of people with disabilities. Globally, it is estimated that approximately 1.3 billion people live with some form of vision impairment. In Kenya there are about 622,000 visually-impaired people, with 331,593 listed as completely blind, according to the country’s 2009 census report.</p>
<p>
The Braille version of the guidelines—produced by the Kenyan government with technical support from World Bank’s Kenya Accountable Devolution Program—seeks to promote good governance, transparency, accountability and inclusivity in all levels of government. World Bank Program Leader Paolo Belli, staid the Bank has made a commitment to support inclusive development, particularly in the collection of disability data. He noted that empowering visually-impaired people through training and access to assistive technologies will boost their contribution to Kenya's socio-economic renewal.</p>
<p>
The Ministry of Devolution and Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) pledged to monitor and take affirmative action on the public procurement system at all the service delivery points to ensure that the one-third of opportunities are reserved and maintained for all persons faced by major disabilities.</p>
<p>
While commending county governments for the progress they have made towards disability inclusion, such as facilitating their engagement in planning and budget formulation meetings, Governor Chepkwony urged them not to let the Braille version of the guidelines gather dust but utilize them. He said that the Council of Governors would constitute a team to monitor their implementation.</p>
<p>
Juliana Kivasu, CEO of the Kenya Society for the Blind, urged government agencies to identify gaps and challenges in their policies and ensure disability mainstreaming in their strategic plans, and statutes and programs. For this to take place successfully, we as the World Bank will have to partner with other stakeholders, to build the capacity of county governments.</p>
<p>
I was very impressed that an immediate response action arose four days after the event and was more-so championed by a youth group. The Youth Theatre Group based in Kibra, Nairobi’s most populous slum, had performed a poem at the launch titled “present but excluded.” Moses Omondi, who coordinates the theatre group, was inspired by “Dining in the Dark” to organize a forum for persons with disabilities in the slums of Kibra. The goal was to facilitate setting up a platform to articulate, address and be engaged in local social and economic issues affecting them.</p>
<p>
The State Department of Planning under the Ministry of National Treasury and Planning has embarked on a process seeking to develop, publish and launch the braille version of the Kenya Vision 2030 popular version. Clearly the event, co-hosted by the Ministry of Devolution and ASAL, and the Council of Governors with the support from our Devolution Program had a great impact! &nbsp;</p>
Wed, 12 Dec 2018 12:26:00 -0500Annette Akinyi OmoloMoving Afghanistan’s Bamyan province forwardhttps://blogs.worldbank.org/endpovertyinsouthasia/moving-afghanistan-s-bamyan-province-forward
<figure class="image">
<img alt="View of Bamyan Province, Afghanistan" height="453" src="https://blogs.worldbank.org/endpovertyinsouthasia/files/endpovertyinsouthasia/Afghanistan-photos/afg-bamayangov-blog-09dec18-1.jpg" title="View of Bamyan Province, Afghanistan" width="680" />
<figcaption>
<em>View of Bamyan city, Bamyan Province. Photo Credit: Rumi Consultancy​/ World Bank</em></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>
When people think of Afghanistan, what comes to their minds are images of decades of war and insecurity.<br />
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True, Afghanistan has suffered a long history of upheaval<br />
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But there has been significant progress in rebuilding a strong, independent, and modern nation since 2001.<br />
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And in light of our nation’s turbulent history, it is sometimes easy to forget how far Afghanistan has come.<br />
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[[tweetable]]Just two month ago in October, over four million voters cast their ballots in parliamentary elections[[/tweetable]]—with millions more looking forward to voting in the upcoming presidential election in 2019.<br />
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Unforgettably, 2018 also brought the unprecedented three-day ceasefire during Eid, a rare glimpse of complete peace that continues to give hope to many of us.<br />
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[[tweetable]]As Governor of Bamyan Province, one of my goals is to present a different image of my country to the world[[/tweetable]]—one of progress and possibility in the face of adversity.<br />
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[[tweetable]]Many people have never heard of Bamyan[[/tweetable]]. Neither do they know its longstanding and well-deserved reputation as one of Afghanistan’ safest provinces.<br />
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Our residents take pride in the fact that we haven’t experienced chaos, war, or insurgency against the government in 17 years.<br />
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And as Governor, [[tweetable]]I have witnessed the importance residents put on civil society, which has been vital to implementing successful development projects[[/tweetable]] in the province.</p>
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<figure class="image">
<img alt="Bamyani villagers are visiting a clinic in Bamyan Hospital" height="451" src="https://blogs.worldbank.org/endpovertyinsouthasia/files/endpovertyinsouthasia/Afghanistan-photos/afg-bamayangov-blog-09dec18-3.jpg" title="Bamyani villagers are visiting a clinic in Bamyan Hospital" width="680" />
<figcaption>
<em>A Bamyani villager is consulting a doctor in Bamyan Provincial Hospital. Photo Credit: Rumi Consultancy/ World Bank</em></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>
In my three years at my current job, many of the government projects in Bamyan Province have received funding from the <a href="http://www.artf.af/" rel="nofollow">Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund</a> (ARTF), which is managed by the World Bank on behalf of 34 donors, as well as the <a href="http://www.worldbank.org/ida" rel="nofollow">International Development Association</a> (IDA), the World Bank Group’s fund for the poorest countries.<br />
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These projects cover crucial areas of development such as agriculture and livestock, education, women’s empowerment, microfinance, infrastructure, healthcare, and more.<br />
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[[tweetable]]Given that 80 percent of Bamyan residents make a living from farming, agriculture-focused projects have contributed to the success of nearly all other development projects[[/tweetable]].<br />
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Case in point: [[tweetable]]A hospital is only useful if a person can reach it; a school is only beneficial if students can attend it[[/tweetable]].<br />
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So, raising farmers’ incomes and encouraging their self-sufficiency helps boost access to healthcare, schools, and other municipal services as locals can then afford safer transport and buy medicine and other necessities to improve their standards of living.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Projects such as the <a href="http://projects.worldbank.org/P143841/afghanistan-national-horticulture-livestock-productivity-project?lang=en" rel="nofollow">National Horticulture and Livestock Productivity Project</a> (NHLP), the <a href="http://projects.worldbank.org/P120397/improving-agricultural-inputs-delivery-system-iids?lang=en" rel="nofollow">Afghanistan Agricultural Inputs Project</a> (AAIP), the <a href="http://projects.worldbank.org/P117103/national-solidarity-program-iii?lang=en" rel="nofollow">National Solidarity Program</a> (NSP)&nbsp; and <a href="http://projects.worldbank.org/P160567?lang=en" rel="nofollow">Citizen’s Charter Afghanistan Project</a> have promoted &nbsp;rural facilities and agriculture as a source of income by helping farmers access efficient irrigation and learn and implement modern farming methods.<br />
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These projects also provide relevant tools and infrastructure such as micro greenhouses.<br />
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I believe these projects also effect change in other areas of society by lifting beneficiaries and their families out of poverty.<br />
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For instance, [[tweetable]]many women involved in the micro greenhouse project are satisfied with the new skills they have learned[[/tweetable]], saying it “has helped [them] earn an income and find jobs outside of the home.”</p>
<figure class="image">
<img alt="National Horticulture and Livestock Project has helped farmers learn and implement modern farming methods." height="452" src="https://blogs.worldbank.org/endpovertyinsouthasia/files/endpovertyinsouthasia/Afghanistan-photos/afg-bamayangov-blog-09dec18-2.jpg" title="National Horticulture and Livestock Project has helped farmers learn and implement modern farming methods." width="680" />
<figcaption>
<em>The National Horticulture and Livestock Project (NHLP) has helped farmers learn and implement modern farming methods. Photo Credit/ Rumi Consultancy/ World Bank</em></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>
[[tweetable]]These projects will also help boost average household incomes in Bamyan and increase labor market participation rate[[/tweetable]], which was already higher at about 62 percent than the national average of 55 percent in 2013, according to World Bank estimates.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Others who have benefited financially from better harvests and more diverse crops say that with higher incomes, “[their] children can go to school and we can buy them the clothes, books, and paper to succeed.”<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Being able to provide for their children will help improve our provincial net primary school attendance rate even further, which saw an increase of 13 percent from 2007 to 2013, according to the <a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/afghanistan/publication/afghanistan-provincial-briefs-2016" rel="nofollow">World Bank Provincial Briefs</a> published in 2016.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
At the same time, [[tweetable]]the health of many communities is improving in tandem with improved agricultural practices[[/tweetable]] as residents learn proper nutrition from information distributed by NHLP.<br />
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The NHLP Bamyan Outreach Coordinator said that “pregnant women especially are getting better nutrition because reports of night blindness and other deficiency related problems are decreasing rapidly after we began educating our beneficiaries on the benefits of growing a variety of vegetables.”<br />
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[[tweetable]]Thanks to the impact of this work, we are ready to develop new projects with support from the World Bank and ARTF[[/tweetable]]—and encourage our partners to support other projects in our province in the future. <span>‌</span><br />
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[[tweetable]]As Governor, I am pleased to see this success reflected in the lives of residents[[/tweetable]].<br />
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And while donors and development organizations have brought positive change and helped reform institutions, this success, however, belongs to Bamyan residents who are committed to moving their communities and Afghanistan forward and remain resolute in their pursuit of a better future.</p>
Sun, 09 Dec 2018 09:00:00 -0500Mohammad Tahir ZuhairAgainst all odds: 16 inspiring heroes from Nepalhttps://blogs.worldbank.org/endpovertyinsouthasia/against-all-odds-16-inspiring-heroes-nepal
<span><span><span>As&nbsp;the&nbsp;<strong>16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence&nbsp;</strong>is marked worldwide, </span></span></span>[[tweetable]]we present to you stories of 16 inspiring&nbsp;heroes from Nepal[[/tweetable]]<span><span><span>. They are crusaders and pioneers, leaders and visionaries who share one common trait – a remarkable journey in their path towards equality and empowerment. They belong to diverse backgrounds, cultures, castes and groups. Yet all of them have stood against odds and managed to make a difference in many lives.</span></span></span><br />
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[[tweetable]]Each of the personalities is carefully chosen as a representative character with experiences that motivate and resonate with us[[/tweetable]]<span><span><span>. These Nepali&nbsp;heroes deserve to be read about, known and lauded for their efforts.</span></span></span><br />
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<div>
<img alt="" height="383" src="https://blogs.worldbank.org/endpovertyinsouthasia/files/endpovertyinsouthasia/user-pictures/postcard2-final.jpg" title="" width="680" /></div>
<p>
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[[tweetable]]16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an international campaign to challenge violence against women and girls.[[/tweetable]]<br />
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<span><span><span>The campaign runs every year from 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day.<br />
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The World Bank Group believes that no country, community, or economy can achieve its potential or meet the challenges of the 21st century without equal participation of women and men, girls and boys.<br />
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So </span></span></span>[[tweetable]]here we bring to you stories of 16&nbsp;heroes that have contributed more than their share in empowering themselves, their communities and nation.[[/tweetable]]</p>
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<p>
<a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2018/12/04/creating-an-identity-of-her-own" rel="nofollow">Creating an Identity of her Own</a>: Society can be harsh and difficult to those who are ‘different’ from the society’s perception of ‘normal’. [[tweetable]]Read about the transformation of Bhumika Shrestha, a transgender activist who has created a strong identity of her own.[[/tweetable]].<br />
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<a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2018/12/04/campaigning-for-womens-land-rights-in-npal" rel="nofollow">Campaigning for Women's Land Rights in Nepal</a>: In Nepal, women are less likely than men to own a home or land alone or jointly. Among women, 8% own a home and 11% own land alone or jointly. Among men, 19% own a home and 21% own land alone or jointly, according to Demographic Health Survey, 2016. In&nbsp;a country&nbsp;where land is still considered as a major asset and a piece of land registration makes a huge difference in a woman’s life, [[tweetable]]read about Kalpana Karki from Sindupalchowk, a land rights activist struggling to ensure women’s rights to land.[[/tweetable]]<br />
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<a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2018/12/04/from-food-insecurity-to-innovative-agriculture" rel="nofollow">From Food Security to Innovative Agriculture</a>: [[tweetable]]Karsangma Lama, a vegetable farmer from Humla, battled adversities to enhance food security for her family and entire community.[[/tweetable]]<br />
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<a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2018/12/04/bringing-hope-to-the-lives-of-visually-impaired-children" rel="nofollow">Bringing Hope to the Lives of Visually-Impaired Children</a>: With an alarming increase in the rate of rape cases of minors being reported in the media, [[tweetable]]Keshari Thapa, former principal at Purbanchal Gyan Chakshu High School, Dharan believes that visually impaired boys and girls at higher risk of sexual assault. Find out more about her being a ‘ray of hope’ for them.[[/tweetable]]<br />
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<a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2018/12/04/from-kamlari-to-provincial-deputy-speaker" rel="nofollow">From Kamlari to Provincial Deputy Speaker</a>: [[tweetable]]Meet Krishni Tharu, who beat all odds to become a Provincial Deputy Speaker.[[/tweetable]]<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2018/12/04/exercising-power-to-benefit-women" rel="nofollow">Exercising Power to Benefit Women</a>: A woman mayor can make a world of difference. [[tweetable]]Read how Manju Malasi, Mayor of Doti Silgadi Municipality is exercising power to benefit women.[[/tweetable]]<br />
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<a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2018/12/04/an-exemplary-conservationist" rel="nofollow">An Exemplary Conservationist</a>: [[tweetable]]Do you want to know how Nanda Devi Kunwar from Kailali was physically attacked for being an exemplary conservationist? [[/tweetable]]Read more about Kunwar, who is an epitome of courage and willpower.<br />
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<a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2018/12/04/engaging-with-social-change-through-the-visual-medium" rel="nofollow">Engaging with Social Change through the Visual Medium</a>: [[tweetable]]Meet NayanTara Gurung Kakshapati, a young journalist-turned visual artist who is pushing boundaries to end inequality and all kinds of discrimination existing in Nepali society. [[/tweetable]]<br />
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<a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2018/12/04/a-woman-of-substance" rel="nofollow">A Woman of Substance</a>: [[tweetable]]From facing society’s wrath for being unable to bear a child to become an authoritative voice in the society - Meet Ramkali Devi Thakur<a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2018/12/04/a-woman-of-substance" rel="nofollow"> </a>(Lohar), a woman of substance.[[/tweetable]]<br />
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<a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2018/12/04/the-acid-attack-survivor-who-fought-to-change-the-law" rel="nofollow">The Acid Attack Survivor who Fought to Change the Law</a>: [[tweetable]]The new civil and criminal code has the provision of providing immediate financial support to cover treatment for acid attacks and increasing the penalty to 10 years from three years of imprisonment. All thanks to Sangita Magar - who dared to change the law.[[/tweetable]]<br />
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<a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2018/12/04/a-pioneer-dalit-campaigner" rel="nofollow">A Pioneer Dalit Campaigner</a>: [[tweetable]]Breaking all barriers at the decision-making level and putting an end to the discrimination will be the ultimate win for Sannani Pariyar, a Dalit campaigner from Dhading.[[/tweetable]]<br />
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<a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2018/12/04/transforming-lives-through-music" rel="nofollow">Transforming Lives through Music</a>: Imagine the situation of a child who is separated&nbsp;from her family at a young age of seven, just because she is a girl.[[tweetable]] Tabla player Sarita Mishra’s attempt to transform such troubled lives through music is worth reading.[[/tweetable]]<br />
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<a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2018/12/04/taking-nepali-skills-to-global-heights" rel="nofollow">Taking Nepali Skils to Global Heights</a>: An empowered woman empowers a society. [[tweetable]]Shyam Badan Shrestha, an entrepreneur, has trained hundreds of women and established women’s groups in nine districts who provide their products to her company. [[/tweetable]]<br />
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<a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2018/12/04/a-fearless-voice" rel="nofollow">A Fearless Voice</a>: Imagine being subjected to humiliation, isolation and insult in the name of caste-based discrimination at an early age. [[tweetable]]Journalist Sona Khatik<a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2018/12/04/a-fearless-voice" rel="nofollow"> </a>has transformed those painful experiences into a learning experience and become a fearless voice for deprived community.[[/tweetable]]<br />
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<a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2018/12/04/dreaming-big-to-save-mothers-during-childbirth-in-remote-nepal" rel="nofollow">Dreaming Big to Save Mothers During Childbirth in Remote Nepal</a><a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2018/12/04/a-fearless-voice" rel="nofollow">:</a> Only 44 % births are delivered in a health facility in rural Nepal and 44 % birth are assisted by a skilled provider.[[tweetable]] Yangzom Sherpa<a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2018/12/04/dreaming-big-to-save-mothers-during-childbirth-in-remote-nepal" rel="nofollow"> </a>is in pursuit of fulfilling her dream of saving the lives of mothers in remote Nepal. [[/tweetable]]<br />
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<a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2018/12/04/-of-inspiration" rel="nofollow">Epitome of Inspiration</a>: [[tweetable]]Yagya Kumari Ruchal, Deputy Chairperson of Chaubise Rural Municipality, is an epitome of inspiration. Read all about the woman who has opened up financial avenues for women.[[/tweetable]]</p>
<div>
<img alt="" height="383" src="https://blogs.worldbank.org/endpovertyinsouthasia/files/endpovertyinsouthasia/user-pictures/postcard2-final_1.jpg" title="" width="680" /></div>
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&nbsp;Wed, 05 Dec 2018 08:07:00 -0500Renu ChhetriMilk fortification in India: The journey so farhttps://blogs.worldbank.org/endpovertyinsouthasia/milk-fortification-india-journey-so-far
<figure class="image">
<img alt=" NDDB" height="453" src="https://blogs.worldbank.org/endpovertyinsouthasia/files/endpovertyinsouthasia/milk-fortification-blog.jpg" title=" NDDB" width="680" />
<figcaption>
In India alone, 185 million people don’t get enough nutrients. This hidden hunger is especially pervasive among children. as more than 70 percent of India’s children under five are deficient in Vitamin D, and 57 percent of all children in the country lack adequate levels of Vitamin A. Credit:&nbsp;NDDB</figcaption>
</figure>
[[tweetable]]Globally, more than two billion people are deficient in key micronutrients, which are essential to their good health.[[/tweetable]]<br />
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[[tweetable]]In India alone, 185 million people don’t get enough nutrients.[[/tweetable]]<br />
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This hidden hunger is especially pervasive among children. [[tweetable]]More than 70 percent of India’s children under five are deficient in Vitamin D, and 57 percent of all children in the country lack adequate levels of Vitamin A.&nbsp;[[/tweetable]]<br />
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These deficiencies have contributed to high levels of stunting, wasting and underweight children.
<figure class="image">
<img alt=" UNICEF " height="453" src="https://blogs.worldbank.org/endpovertyinsouthasia/files/endpovertyinsouthasia/2-billion.jpg" title=" UNICEF " width="680" />
<figcaption>
Global micronutrient deficiency (as a percentage of the population). Two billion people in the world lack key micronutrients such as Vitamin A or iron. South Asia has the most critical malnutrition levels.&nbsp;Source: UNICEF&nbsp;</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>
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<strong>Micronutrient availability can make or break a balanced diet</strong><br />
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[[tweetable]]If accessible and affordable, nutritional supplements taken in the form of capsules or tablets can mitigate the symptoms of hidden hunger. [[/tweetable]]But they can become toxic if consumed in large amounts. &nbsp;<br />
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[[tweetable]]Unlike supplements, food fortification is a simple, preventive and low-cost approach to curb micronutrient deficiencies.[[/tweetable]]<br />
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But except for mandatory iodine fortification of salt, India lags in adopting food fortification as a scalable public health intervention. &nbsp;<br />
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This is a missed opportunity as [[tweetable]]a glass of fortified milk (320g) can provide approximately 34 percent of the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin A and 47 percent of Vitamin D.[[/tweetable]]<br />
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In 2016, the <a href="https://www.fssai.gov.in/home" rel="nofollow">Food Safety and Standards Authority of India </a>released standards for the fortification of five staple food items: rice, wheat, salt, oil, and milk. Further to that, regulations are now in place to fortify milk variants such as low fat, skimmed, and whole milk with Vitamin A and D. &nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
But despite its significant health benefits, and while established for more than three decades by companies such as <a href="https://www.motherdairy.com/" rel="nofollow">Mother Dairy</a>, a subsidiary of the <a href="https://www.nddb.coop/" rel="nofollow">National Dairy Development Board</a> (NDDB), milk fortification is not yet common practice across the Indian milk industry.<br />
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To fill that gap, NDDB partnered in 2017 with the <a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/safansi" rel="nofollow">South Asia Food and Nutrition Security Initiative (SAFANSI)</a>, the <a href="http://www.worldbank.org" rel="nofollow">World Bank</a>, and <a href="http://www.tatatrusts.org/section/inside/Nutrition" rel="nofollow">The India Nutrition Initiative, Tata Trusts</a> to explore the possibilities of large-scale milk fortification in India.<br />
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Over the last twelve months, this collaboration has enabled ten milk federations, dairy producer companies, and milk unions across the country to pilot milk fortification for their consumers. Fifteen others have initiated the process.</p>
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<figure class="image">
<img alt=" NDDB" height="454" src="https://blogs.worldbank.org/endpovertyinsouthasia/files/endpovertyinsouthasia/milk-fortification-blog-2.jpg" title=" NDDB" width="680" />
<figcaption>
On-site training in milk fortification. Credit: NDDB</figcaption>
</figure>
<strong>Milk fortification in Jharkhand</strong><br />
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[[tweetable]]The state of Jharkhand is one of the worst affected in India with acute Vitamin A and D deficiencies.[[/tweetable]]<br />
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Now, the Jharkhand Milk Federation is a pioneer in taking up milk fortification.<br />
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In May 2017, the Federation started daily fortification of 13,000 liters of milk. Within one year, the Federation expanded daily fortification to 80,000 liters.<br />
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About six million consumers across the state now access fortified milk. In the long run, this initiative will likely improve the health and wellbeing of people of Jharkhand and serve as a showcase for other States wishing to accelerate their efforts in milk fortification.<br />
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<strong>The way forward for milk fortification in India </strong><br />
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[[tweetable]]Even though India&nbsp;is the world’s largest dairy producer and one of the largest consumers of milk, only 35 to 40 percent of the marketed milk pass through organized channel[[/tweetable]]s such as milk unions, dairy producer companies, and the private sector.<br />
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The challenge remains to convert more milk in the unorganized sector to processed and packaged milk and eventually to fortified milk.<br />
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Also, there are other variants of milk such as cow milk and full cream milk available in the market for which fortification standards are not yet in place.<br />
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The progress achieved in scaling up milk fortification in India through the SAFANSI Milk Fortification Project has set up the base for dairy industry readiness for widespread milk fortification across India.Fri, 30 Nov 2018 18:10:00 -0500Edward W. BresnyanAfter three decades of transformation in Georgia – what’s next for the jobs market?https://blogs.worldbank.org/europeandcentralasia/after-three-decades-transformation-georgia-what-s-next-jobs-market
<img alt="Georgia Job Market" height="439" src="https://blogs.worldbank.org/europeandcentralasia/files/water/ge-job_market.jpg" title="Georgia Job Market" width="780" /><br />
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Celebrating his 60<sup>th</sup> birthday recently, my father chatted with me about his career and getting his first job. He graduated as an engineer in the 1970s in Austria and faced very different employment opportunities to those I faced some decades later. There were five construction firms, all just around the corner from his home, to which he could apply for a job at that time.<br />
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When I finished graduate school in 2016, I applied for work with organizations in five different countries around the world. Suffice to say, the labor market in which my generation is competing is vastly different and far more globalized than the one my dad faced.<br />
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A very interesting recent <a href="https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/29955/126461-WP-P165644-PUBLIC-GeorgiaJDPrinting.pdf" rel="nofollow">report</a> looks at the jobs market in another relatively small country – Georgia – and takes stock of the country’s transformation, while also looking at the challenges ahead.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
Georgia has significantly transformed its economy over the last three decades – from a closed economy tied to the fortunes of the Soviet Union, to an open and vibrant economy with private-sector driven growth. And, over that same period, <a href="http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/povOnDemand.aspx" rel="nofollow">poverty has decreased</a> substantially in the country.<br />
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Georgians today are on the move. They are much more mobile than previous generations – they do not only migrate from rural areas to the capital Tbilisi, where most of the jobs are, but they also move internationally. In 2013 alone, about 28.5% of the population changed their place of residence within Georgia, while between 2000 and 2010, it is believed that 10% of Georgians emigrated abroad.<br />
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But, despite this dynamism, the country’s jobs market still faces some challenges. While the opening up of Georgia’s economy undoubtedly improved living standards, it also exposed it to international competition. As a result, young Georgians now compete with workers from all over the world – making access to a good education ever more important.<br />
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Although an impressive 40% of Georgians graduate from university, many do not acquire the kind of skills that are demanded by the private sector. Furthermore, Georgia’s regions have not experienced growth equally. While youth in urban areas have better chances of finding a job, many young people in rural areas are left behind.<br />
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Notwithstanding considerable increases in education quality over the last 10 years, existing evidence from the OECD’s PISA study shows that almost 60% of 15-year-olds in the country are functionally illiterate. Children from poor households and rural areas demonstrate a particularly poor performance, exacerbating the existing income and spatial inequalities in the country.<br />
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In 2016, 61% of the country’s private sector jobs were located in Tbilisi. Furthermore, while 24% of youth in rural areas are <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NEET" rel="nofollow">NEET</a> (Not in Education, Employment, or Training), the same applies only to 14% of youth in Tbilisi.<br />
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To deal with the country’s labor market challenges, the report recommends the following: a set of policies to increase access to markets and global value chains – especially for left-behind rural areas; continuing to improve the quality of the education system, with a particular focus on reforms in the vocational education system, and; policies to incentivize (re)immigration, higher female labor force participation, and increasing fertility to deal with the country’s demographic challenges.<br />
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As with me and my father in Austria, the jobs market that young Georgians face today is very different from the one their fathers encountered. The last few decades have seen Georgia transform significantly, but the country needs to continue on this path and ensure that its youth have more and better employment opportunities in the future.<br />
&nbsp;Thu, 29 Nov 2018 16:48:00 -0500Florentin KerschbaumerAct now for a brighter future for the Afghan peoplehttps://blogs.worldbank.org/endpovertyinsouthasia/act-now-brighter-future-afghan-people
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<img alt="Today, over 8.5 million students attend school–over 40% of them girls" height="453" src="https://blogs.worldbank.org/endpovertyinsouthasia/files/endpovertyinsouthasia/Afghanistan-photos/afg-sarvpblog-geneva-28nov2018-1.jpg" title="Today, over 8.5 million students attend school–over 40% of them girls" width="680" />
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<em>Photo Credit: Rumi Consultancy/ World Bank</em></figcaption>
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In 2001, only one million Afghan children attended school–none of them girls. [[tweetable]]Today, over 8.5 million students attend school–over 40% of them girls[[/tweetable]].<br />
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Amina, a 9<sup>th</sup> grade student, is one of over 3 million girls that now attend school through the contributions of the Afghan people and support from the international community.<br />
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"I have seen many improvements at my school. We are learning more now through better teaching methods and materials,” she said. Amina is one of the millions of Afghans whose lives have improved and has great hopes for the future.<br />
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As the first country that I visited after becoming the World Bank’s Vice President for the South Asia Region in July 2018, [[tweetable]]Afghanistan impressed me with its resilient people and achievements in spite of challenges, notably in education, health, and infrastructure[[/tweetable]].<br />
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The country has immense potential. Located in the center of a fast-growing region blessed with a young population and abundant natural resources, [[tweetable]]Afghanistan can achieve rapid growth and huge improvements in living standards through sound planning and tight implementation[[/tweetable]].</p>
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<img alt="Afghanistan was ranked as a top improver in the World Bank’s annual Doing Business report for its reforms" height="453" src="https://blogs.worldbank.org/endpovertyinsouthasia/files/endpovertyinsouthasia/Afghanistan-photos/afg-sarvpblog-geneva-28nov2018-2.jpg" title="Afghanistan was ranked as a top improver in the World Bank’s annual Doing Business report for its reforms" width="680" />
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<em>Photo Credit: Rumi Consultancy/ World Bank</em></figcaption>
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Despite the encouraging progress and potential, both sentiment and evidence show that living standards for too many Afghans remains low due to persistent poverty, high unemployment, and lack of security. Tensions have shaken business confidence, while the country’s fiscal situation remains precarious. These challenges require tireless efforts to overcome.<br />
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[[tweetable]]More than ever, extra attention needs to be paid to sound implementation with effective collaboration between the Government of Afghanistan[[/tweetable]] and its international partners to ensure sufficient resources are used for the maximum benefit of the people of Afghanistan.<br />
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With these considerations in mind, we are meeting together this week at the <a href="https://unama.unmissions.org/geneva-ministerial-conference-afghanistan" rel="nofollow">Ministerial Conference on Afghanistan</a> in Geneva, Switzerland. Representatives from many countries and organizations have gathered to reaffirm the solidarity of the international community with the Afghan people in their efforts toward greater peace and prosperity, and for the Afghan government to realize greater development and reform.<br />
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Two years ago, in 2016, the Afghan government and international community made mutual commitments at <a href="http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/10/05/bca-main-results/" rel="nofollow">the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan</a> to take the country further on its path toward economic growth and peace.<br />
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[[tweetable]]We’ve seen some encouraging results as the Afghan government has taken serious steps to expand an ambitious agenda of reforms in key fronts[[/tweetable]], including strengthening public financial management systems and improving the business environment to allow private sector growth and create jobs for the Afghan people. &nbsp;These reforms have begun to deliver results. For instance, Afghanistan was ranked as a top improver in the World Bank’s annual <a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2018/10/31/afghanistan-is-a-top-improver-with-record-reforms-to-improve-business-climate" rel="nofollow">Doing Business</a> report for its reforms, making it easier to start and run a business.<br />
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Moreover, the prospects for peace appear to be promising, which is a hopeful sign for growth in the coming years. If achieved, a durable peace will take Afghanistan toward a more sustainable development path.<br />
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However, much more remains to be done for poverty eradication, job creation, and ensuring better security for the Afghan people. At today’s meeting in Geneva, on behalf of the <a href="http://www.worldbank.org/af" rel="nofollow">World Bank Group</a>, I stressed to the Government of Afghanistan and its development partners the need to accelerate the implementation of the vision and strategies that have been put into place to enable the key sectors of agriculture and extractives, boost investment in regional connectivity, continue to implement reforms to address business constraints, and increase, investments in health and education.<br />
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Implementation does not necessarily mean new laws, regulations, or strategies. Rather, it means identifying a few concrete goals, tracking progress toward them, and taking action when reforms get stuck or slow down. It also means taking decisive action when progress is prevented by vested interests.<br />
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We can’t afford the luxury of waiting any longer.&nbsp;[[tweetable]]Let us work together to turn this vision into reality, as taking difficult but necessary steps now will lay the foundation for creating a prosperous Afghanistan[[/tweetable]]. We owe it to Amina and millions of other Afghans that are working hard toward a better and more prosperous future.</p>
Wed, 28 Nov 2018 16:30:00 -0500Hartwig Schafer